An invitation to Small Business Saturday

This Saturday, November 26th, we want to celebrate Small business Saturday with you! It's a special holiday (now in its 6th year), created so we can show love for the small businesses in our communities. Before you spend your time and money cyber-shopping, check out the special sales at our local stores throughout Macoupin County, and keep your money where its most appreciated. At all three of our stores in Bunker Hill, Carlinville, and Gillespie, on Friday & Saturday we are featuring 25% off all Vionic slippers (part of Oprah's Favorite Things for 2016), 25% off all Vionic shoes, and 25% off Dr. Comfort Slippers & Shoes.
Thank you for your support!

You're invited to our Grand Opening Event

We are very pleased to invite you to the Grand Opening Celebration of our new store in Bunker Hill! Following many months of prepping our new location at 809 Franklin St. and a month-long trial run to get everything smoothed out, we’re ready to officially welcome you to our new pharmacy. We will be hosting a celebration this Fri & Sat, with free hot dogs, chips, and soft drinks on Sat from 11am-1pm. There will be gift bags for new customers, and a drawing for a 32" LED tv and a $50 gift card for Meehan's IGA! Our guests include Mayor Tom Ament and IGA's Pat Meehan. Grand Opening specials include 40% off gift items and 25% off Woodburn Country Store products.

Okay, Bunker Hill, it's time!

It's been a long road, with some unexpected twists, turns, and the occasional pothole, but we've finally arrived! Our doors open in Bunker Hill at 8:30am tomorrow, October 3rd, at 809 Franklin St. next to Meehan's IGA. Stop by and meet us and get to know all the amazing services we provide. We'll have some folks on hand to explain Simplify My Meds, Simple Savings, our Compounding and Home Care services and what we can do to help make your pharmacy experience better.
We'll be here Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday from 8:30am to 2pm. We're open to suggestions, so bring along your requests for our over-the-counter products (we have access to hundreds more items that we can add to our daily stock, and can easily handle your special requests).

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to serve you, and look forward to making new friends!

About our new telepharmacy in Bunker Hill

We've been fielding questions about our new remote telepharmacy opening October 3rd in Bunker Hill, so it's time now for a little discussion about what a telepharmacy actually is.

 According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, telepharmacies have been authorized in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming and the District of Columbia. In 2010, the Illinois legislature telepharmacy regulations were included in a rewrite of the state’s pharmacy laws that is done every decade. Economic conditions usually dictate the placement and numbers of independent pharmacies, often resulting in a loss of much needed services. Since some patients who might have to travel long distances on the day they receive their prescriptions from their physicians, they may hold off on filling those scrips until they can travel again to a town with a pharmacy.

Enter the concept of telepharmacies, through which pharmaceutical care is delivered via telecommunications by a pharmacist working away from the clinic. Telepharmacies began to be formed in the United States shortly after the turn of the century. The Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis said in a 2011 paper that the growth of telepharmacies corresponded with changes in Medicare reimbursement and the recession of 2007-08.

Let's take a look at how this works.
A telepharmacy, or remote-dispensing site, operates like a traditional pharmacy except the pharmacist reviews and verifies prescriptions from a remote location. In our case, patients who come in can speak to our pharmacists in either Carlinville or Gillespie (depending on which location is available for the quickest response).
 
1) A prescription arrives at the pharmacy.
After arriving at the pharmacy, prescriptions will enter through the pharmacy management system (PMS) in our Bunker Hill store. Our highly advanced software integrates with our PMS for a seamless, real-time experience. Our licensed technicians prepare it for dispensing by the pharmacist.

2) The prescription is filled.
For the prescription to be verified, our technicians send images of the script, medication labels, pills, and the medication bottle with the lot number and expiration date in view to the remote pharmacist. These images, along with the patient’s profile, are securely stored for review before, during or after verification.

3) The pharmacist verifies the prescription.
Pharmacists will review the patient’s medication profile for drug interactions and other potential problems. After the pharmacist reviews the images they can either approve or reject the submission. If rejected, the pharmacist leaves notes for the technician regarding the discrepancy. If approved, the technician is notified and the medication is packaged.

4) Live video patient counseling. 
 When you pick up your medications, you’re presented with an option to speak to a pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns. The remote pharmacist has all necessary patient information, including medication history, readily available during counseling. Our consultation room is a private area where you can discuss any concerns with the responding pharmacist over a live, technologically secure HIPAA-compliant video connection.

So, Bunker Hill, to wrap up, you can expect the same high-quality service you've come to know with us. In a more convenient location. Open 6 days each week. We may be popping in from time-to-time before our opening on October 3rd, so if the door is open, stop in and say Hi!

Hey Bunker Hill! Our doors are opening on October 3rd!

Things are finally coming together (following some unanticipated delays) for the opening of our telepharmacy at 809 Franklin St. (next to Meehan's IGA.). Barring any further disruptions, we will open up on Monday, October 3rd. We'll get back to you with our operating hours in the next couple weeks. 

We are very excited to have an opportunity to  serve you, and are looking forward to introducing you to our range of services and programs including Simplify My Meds, Simple Savers, free diabetic test strips, home care services, Dr. Comfort diabetic shoes, compounding, and free delivery. Watch this blog for the announcement of our Grand Opening Celebration. We thank you for your patience - we're looking forward to making new friends and continuing our service to our current friends! Next week we'll be back here with everything you want to know about what this "telepharmacy" is all about!

Getting closer every day...

Following some unforeseen problems with a service provider which caused a delay, things are getting back on track with the construction at our new store in Bunker Hill. Most of the advanced high-speed internet/video/audio services, designed with regard to the highest security standards, is in place and operational. Last weekend, Wally got the new signage installed and some exterior painting completed. We'll have some new pics for you early next week. 

 

One More Time!

We realize we did not give you much notice the last time our Dr. Comfort Sandals were on sale last month, so we're doing it again. And, yes again at the last minute (sorry). Anyway, today, Friday and Saturday Aug 11-13, our DC flip-flops and slides are 50% OFF! Normally $60, during this sale they are $30. 
 
And at an even bigger savings, all our DC sandals are $40... normally $98. All in-stock styles, colors, and sizes for women and men are included.
 

A look at two of our new compounds

As you know, Ashley has been hard at work for several months preparing compounded prescriptions at the direction of your physicians. Some of the most popular compounds are Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) for both women and men, dermatology & wound compounds, and pain compounds. We are pleased to now announce that Ashley has developed two new compounds to aid in the treatment of those suffering with poison ivy or hemorrhoids.

Our Poison Ivy Compound Gel is an effective  treatment for the inflammation and itching associated with poison ivy and sumac. This prescription-only compound contains an anti-inflammatory, two local anesthetics, and an antihistamine. It is applied topically and works at the surface very quickly. The gel formation provides a cooling sensation, feels smooth without a sticky finish, and is affordably priced at $20 for 30 grams.

Our Compounded Hemorrhoid Treatment Suppositories can help heal stubborn hemorrhoids. It is designed to treat inflammation, redness, pain and spasms that are caused by the hemorrhoids. Containing a local anesthetic, this formula is effective and well tolerated. It typically shows results within 2 weeks, and may be used 2 to 3 times daily. Available by prescription only, this is very affordable at $35 for 36 suppositories (compare to prescription Anusol HC at $150 for 12 suppositories).

 If you're suffering with poison ivy or hemorrhoids, ask your doctor about these two new compounds. Many area physicians have been provided samples of these compounds, and will likely be aware of the effectiveness of the ingredients. As always, feel free to call us anytime with questions. 

At the parade in Bunker Hill

We had a great time at the parade in Bunker Hill on Saturday, and really appreciate all the expressions of support! We're very excited to be serving you full time very soon. Watch for our Grand Opening announcement coming in August.

Hello Bunker Hill! We'll be there soon!

A couple new pics from our Bunker Hill store

Here's a little update on the progress of our new store in Bunker Hill. Earlier this week, Conner & Eric finished removing the last of the old carpeting to prepare the floor for refinishing, and the phone company has been hard at work installing the new communications lines which will link us to our stores in Carlinville and Gillespie. In the next few weeks we'll have an update explaining exactly how the new "telepharmacy" works.

Wally at work inside the pharmacy area itself showing the progress on the new ceiling.

A view from the sales floor showing the fresh paint on the exterior wall of the pharmacy area.

Hey Bunker Hill....here's some more pics!

Thought you might like a few new pictures showing the progress on the remodeling at our new telepharmacy next to Meehans IGA. Next up will be replacing the ceiling and getting rid of the old carpeting.

Getting the paint onto the new wall in the NW corner

                                               

New entryway

Outside pharmacy looking in

Inside pharmacy looking out

 

 

Hey, Bunker Hill! What's a Telepharmacy? Keep watching here......

Memorial Day and a peek at our new location

Here's a look at the construction underway at our new location in Bunker Hill (next to Meehans IGA in the former Ben Franklin store). Yeah, I know, it's a little hard to get a lock on the final design at this point but the framing for the pharmacy area is nearly complete and the office spaces are coming together. We're very excited to have the opportunity to bring a much-needed service back into town for our current customers (who have been serviced from our Gillespie location), and looking forward to making new friends. We'll be setting a Grand Opening date shortly and keep you updated as we move through spring and into summer.
Our current locations in Carlinville and Gillespie will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30th. Our Carlinville store will re-open on Tuesday at 8am and our Gillespie store will re-open on Tuesday at 8:30am. We urge you to take time on Memorial Day to remember those who have given so much in support of our freedom.

About Our Compounding Services

In every field of medicine, there are some patients who don't respond to traditional methods of treatment. Sometimes you need medicine at a strength that is not manufactured by drug companies, or perhaps you simply need a different method of administering a prescription.
Pharmacy compounding meets these needs. It provides a way for physicians and a compounding pharmacist to customize an individual prescription for your specific requirements. Compounding provides solutions which are not met by commercial products.
In addition to traditional medications, as a compounding pharmacy our specialties include both human and veterinary preparations of medications and vitamins customized for you. We stock only USP verified pharmaceutical ingredients and always keep a wide range of specialty, compounded, and supportive care medications, including recently approved FDA medications and those medications with limited availability.

Ashley Dicks

With your physicians consent, our compounding pharmacist Ashley Dicks, Pharm.D., can change the strength of a medication, alter it's form to make it easier for you to ingest, or add flavor to make it more palatable. We are able to prepare a drug that is no longer commercially available, change medicine from a pill to a transdermal cream (with the advantage of a minimization of side effects that are often experienced from oral medications), prepare special dosing sizes and flavors for children and pets, and prepare meds to meet the specific requirements to conform to your unique needs.
Some of the most common requests for compounded products include:
•    Bio-identical Hormone Replacement (BHRT) therapy for women.
          Women of all ages experience hormone imbalances, with many changes occurring around the time of menopause. Each woman is different, calling for a unique balance of hormones for many common symptoms of hormone imbalances including hot flashes, decreased sex drive, vaginal dryness, irritability, mood swings, fatigue and many more. We use a combination of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone identical to what your body produces to meet these needs.
•    Bio-identical Hormone Replacement (BHRT) therapy for men.
          Similarly to women, men experience symptoms related to diminished hormone levels. Men experience andropause, which is a slow decline in testosterone levels. A wide range of symptoms may be experienced, often including a noticeable decline in both strength and energy. Other symptoms may include decreased sex drive, thinning hair, fatigue, sleep disturbances and memory lapses.
•    Pain Management Solutions
          Acute and chronic pain can be detrimental to daily life. Michelle's Pharmacy is dedicated to finding a solution to your aches and pains. We will work closely with both you and your doctor to determine which medications are best for you. We are able to compound medications into transdermal creams or gels, at strengths that aren't readily available. An advantage of using a transdermal product is the minimization of side effects that are often experienced from oral medications. By compounding the tropical product, we are customizing the medication to your needs. Some of the pain conditions for which we can compound include arthritis, fibromyalgia, headaches, nerve and muscle pain, post-surgical pain and exercise and sports injuries.
•    Veterinary Compounding Services
          Many of our beloved pets need medications; however, this tends to be a dreaded task for many pet owners. Whether your cat is having trouble swallowing a pill, or your dog will only take medication when mixed in with a treat, giving medication isn't always the easiest part of your day. Here at Michelle's Pharmacy we are able to tailor the medication to your pet's needs. We can customize the drug, strength, size, dosage form, and even flavor liquids such as beef and tuna to make medicating your pet a less stressful task!
Ask your doctor if a compounded medication may be helpful to you. Then call us at 217.839.9901 to schedule an appointment to consult with Ashley in her private, secure office to discuss your needs. We can help you find a solution.